Best museum/art gallery: The Hokitika Museum; the Carnegie Building alone is worth the trip. Its treasures includes millions of dollars worth of stuffed birds. Town is filled with pieces by local artists, using glass, copper, rocks, driftwood and greenstone.

Town competitions: The Sand Dune Classic (January), Take a Seat sculpture competition (August), the Driftwood and Sand Sculpture competition (January) and Speight's Coast to Coast (February).

Best view: On a clear day you can see Aoraki (Mt Cook) from the main street. Sunset Point is also popular.

Best park/playground: Cass Square has a beauty for letting off steam, excellent sports fields too.

Here for a short time: Visit one of the pounamu factories, the product is amazing. Also check out the monuments, Signal Station Lookout, the Seddon Statue, the Shipwreck Memorial and the Statue of Summer.

Best swim: The Hokitika Public Swimming Pool, with lap lanes and spa facilities, or enjoy the rugged ocean. Lake Kaniere is naturally popular.

Best wildlife: The National Kiwi Centre's residents.

When a local has visitors staying, they go to: The Wildfoods Festival, Seaforth Gardens, the beaches, the scenic loop drive to Lake Kaniere and the Rimu Lookout, or Cowboy Paradise to shoot guns.

Thanks to Mike Keenan (fourth-generation Coaster and organiser of the Wildfoods Festival) for the inside knowledge.